Worn looking lifelines

[Rick Rountree]

The appearance of the white plastic coating on my '87 Hunter 23 lifelines is pretty yucky. Despite my elbow grease, they are discolored and chaffed in a couple of spots. Can I get just the covering replaced since the shrouds, turnbuckles, etc. appear to be in good shape. I f so, do I detach and take the lifelines to a marine store and have the plastic recoating of the lifeline done there or ship it off?

 

[Chuck Michel]

Mine too!!

Hi Rick,I had the same problem with dull yellow lifelines 2 seasons ago andI decided to get all new turnbuckles and hardware because I had young kids and safety was a prime consideration, You can get far betterhardware at a good price out at the supply stores. I went to M&E Marinein Collingswood NJ for mine. I took off the life lines and sent them to M&E. They match what I had for about $80.00 and they did the swagingfor me. I am very pleased with the results and it's far easier to clean andremove the lines.Good Luck!/Chuck

 

[steven f.]

buy it yourself

The plastic coating on the rigging can be replaced at West Marine or Boat US for about $1.50 for a six foot section. It's so cheep that it's easier to replace it than clean it. My one concern is the condition of the life lines. I have a larger boat and the life lines have actually saved the live of my wife and my self on two different occasions. Both times we were sailing in waters that were fairly near shore but in severe weather (I feel like a storm magnet). Life lines, like all rigging, should be replaced before a critical failure occures. Good luck.

 

[Dave Condon]

lifelines

If the life lines need to be cleaned, use acetone and a clean white rag. It does marvels. If replacing, inquire with the HOW store to see if they can replace them. If not, any rig shop that has the appropitae crimp tool for the studs can do the job. By the West Marine has a rig shop in Charlotte but I do not know about the west coast.CRazy Dave